Gavin Sheehan on Cole Harden (R) clears the last fence before winning the Ladbrokes World Hurdle

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Warren Greatrex could barely believe it after his Cole Harden led from start to finish to cause something of an upset in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old would not be passed under an enterprising ride by jockey Gavin Sheehan and the 14-1 shot scored by three and a quarter lengths from the Paul Nicholls-trained 5-1 favourite Saphir Du Rheu. The runner-up’s stable-mate Zarakandar (6-1) was the same distance back in third with At Fishers Cross – under Tony McCoy following his first win of this year’s Festival on Uxizandre in the previous race – fourth.

Cole Harden’ success was a first at the Festival for both trainer Greatrex and jockey Sheehan.

A wind operation after a disappointing run in the galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle in January did the trick and he ran out a fine winner of the Grade One feature.

An emotional Greatrex said: “I believed in the horse, but I was struggling with him early season. When he came back in I was having trouble with him with his wind, and I sent him away to be tested, and he then went and won at Wetherby and won well. So I thought the people who were looking at his wind didn’t know what they were on about.

“After that I struggled with him and I thought we’d go to the Cleeve and we’d see, and he wasn’t right. So we had it done. I’d like to say a big thank you to my head lad Graham Bains, who does everything with this horse. We knew he was spot-on. But I’m small. I’ve got 75 horses in the yard and we’re breaking through.

“It makes a big difference that Gavin [Sheehan] knows him, and I told him to look after this horse, he’s the real deal.

“We’ve just won a Grade One and beat the best. That’s why we’re here.

“Coming down the hill, I thought, they’re really going to have to do it because he’s a free-wheeler and he’s so tough. He wouldn’t have stopped, he’s fit. I’ve never had him better, but you just don’t believe you are going to win a race like this.

“Anyone that knows me, I can talk all day long, and I’m stuck for words! Hopefully, there’ll be many more.”

Sheehan was similarly delighted after Cole Harden had repelled the raid of Saphir Du Rheu and Sam Twiston-Davies.

He declared the win a dream come true. He said: “It was amazing,.“That is what dreams are made of. He jumped off well but I had to get at him just to get my way so I could get in front. He jumped brilliant and did everything right. He was full of running and I didn’t know whether to squeeze on earlier as he had so much running in him. He’s done everything right but I was just waiting for a horse to fly past me and beat me.

“It’s very special, very, very special. Warren has given me the lecture beforehand and he was psyching me up. He was making sure that they weren’t going to go and make it a war but, with fractions, you can’t get them right all of the time but you can only feel what the horse is giving. He gave me an exceptional ride. His jumping was brilliant – in and pop – he was very quick, did everything right and I was just very nervous coming down the hill. I was holding on to him but it was one of those where should you be sending him on or not?

“The minute I’ve turned in though, he’s picked up. If you’ve got a good enough horse like that, front running doesn’t bother me as you know you can hold on and if they do come past you, it’s not your fault. Today, better ground and the recent wind operation has helped massively.

“He’s got so much spark. He hasn’t really given me that feel all season, even when he won at Wetherby, I was just coming into today thinking we were a big player.

“He’s done nothing wrong today in my eyes. He pings off this sort of ground. When I pulled him up after the race, he still had more running in him. He doesn’t know he’s had a race even though this is a World Hurdle.

“We are having a flyer. I am based with Warren and the yard has gone from strength to strength. I think I have improved from strength to strength as well and riding good horses like this and a boss like that. It means everything, especially coming from a yard that I lost my claim with.

“A big shout out to Graham Baines, who rides him out every day. He has got his wind done a small bit and, when you see him at home, he really does spark you. A lot of the lads were giving grief about this horse but I knew there was improvement.”

“This is definitely my dream come true. I had my head down going for home and I didn’t know where the good horses were but I wasn’t going to look round. When we hit the line, my heart sunk you know? It means a lot to me, to Warren and everyone at home. It’s what dreams are made of.”

Champion trainer Nicholls felt runner-up Saphir Du Rheu lacked the speed to go with the winner, but thought third home Zarkandar was unlucky after he blundered the second-last hurdle under Noel Fehily.

The champion trainer said: “Saphir Du Rheu was just going flat out on that ground and couldn’t go any quicker, which was a concern for me before the race. He travelled okay, but just lacks a gear on ground like today’s.

“It’s great for the lads that have won the race, but I think we were unlucky with Zarkandar. Ask Noel what he thinks – the horse was travelling so well and then that happens.”

Trainer Rebecca Curtis was delighted to At Fishers Cross put up an improved performance after some lacklustre efforts this season.

The Welsh trainer said: “He’s run a blinder and it was lovely to see him finish his race today. He ran on up the hill despite bumping into a bit of trouble a couple of times, and A P said if he had known the horse was going to stay on so well he would have kept him a bit handier.

“It’s nice to see him back and showing enthusiasm. He loves Cheltenham but also seems to be more of a spring horse. He always has little problems. The first-time blinkers have done him no harm - they may have helped a bit.”